Statement from London Black Revolutionaries on Ferguson Row with SWP

Reply to Weyman Bennett/ Sabby Dhalu / Stand Up To Racism & Socialist Workers Party from London Black Revolutionaries

We would like to clarify a recently alarming statement on behalf of
Stand Up To Racism posted to us by Dennis Fernado and Sabby Dhalu.

From the hours of 25/11/14 3:00pm - 26/11/13 1:00am. LBR Organisers received a bombardment of calls from SUTR organisers.

We would like to refute some accusations being made.

At 1am of the 26th of November. SUTR approached us with the possibility
of some of their Non-Socialist Workers Party members to speak as
speakers of both events. We made the democratic decision to of course
allow the families of those killed in police custody to speak at the
event, as some have been arranged too already. We would like to convey
respect and solidarity to all speakers of both events.

Our
organisation received a plethora of threats from Weyman Bennett over the
phone, ranging from the threat to dismantle and “go to war” our
organisation if we continued to “ignore the leaders of the movement” and
secondly, if we ever organise events within Anti-Racism, that we must
be obliged to speak to SUTR/SWP.

Secondly, veiled threats were
received to make individuals known to the police if we continued to host
the first statement made on the situation at 26/11/14 1:00am &
additionally, that the police had stated to SUTR that LBR's
demonstration would need heavy policing as it appears to be friction
between the two demonstrations. We would like to state that there is to
be no friction between the two organisation on the day of the
demonstration which is for the sole purpose of Unity. We are
disappointed that individuals are using the police as a way to threaten
and bend the democratic decisions made on behalf of our organisation as a
method to get what they want.

Today, public letters stating
individuals names were published and we take this as an extremely
threatening move against our Organisation.

At London Black
Revolutionaries we take these threats extremely seriously, a number of
threats was made against the safety of our organisation and individual
members which were redacted later in the conversation. These threats
have set the tone and approach of our organisation from the outset
towards SUTR and as such, we have chosen to remain separate from SUTR
& the Socialist Workers Party.

Furthermore, there are a
number of issues as highlighted above, as well as wider political issues
which remain unresolved over allegations made against members of the
Socialist Workers Party regarding Rape, and as such, organisations and
speakers within our demonstration take issue with, including ourselves.

In the same conversation, Weyman Bennett asked for the terms of which
both demonstrations would happen tomorrow [Now Today]. The only
agreement made was that SUTR’s demonstration would end at roughly 6:30pm
and had only been setup in the first place because of his political
responsibilities to the families and to contacts in Ferguson. As such
they needed a demonstration to take place so that they would appear on
the 6pm News. We were assured that after this they would no longer be
holding a demonstration, that there would be no presence from themselves
and that there would be absolutely no interference of our planned
grassroots vigil/protest.

Further accusations have been lodged
that a joint event was agreed. We are safe to say that the solidarity
vigil organised by London Black Revolutionaries & The National Union
of Black Students never agreed to this proposition nor do we know
anything of it. The extent of cooperation proposals came at 1am of
26/11/14 whereby it was asked whether we could accommodate some of their
speakers. To which we replied on an individual basis it was a
possibility, but that we would not be liaising with them [SUTR
Organisers] but with the speakers directly i.e Diane Abbot.

Response to new terms:

As stated, we will continue ahead with the arrangements made for our demonstration to start at 7pm.
Our organisation will not be forced by threats overt or subtle or lies
to bow into another organisations demands, nor will we b co opted or
forced into making decisions by way of applying pressure to individual
organisers. We are a politically principled, militant and grassroots
organisation that puts the working people first. We are disappointed to
have to spend time which could have gone into organising a bigger and
more vibrant demonstration on political in-fighting from left
organisations. We ask that all harassment cease on behalf of SUTR
organisers and that on the day both demonstrations will take place as
planned.

The decision to make a second demonstration at 5:30pm is
a highly sectarian move and political motivated but we have no
political say and frankly there are more important issues at the moment.

This event is black-led and organised by young grassroots black
activists in the local community and is set to be large for this reason.
For the sake of showing unity – if we want to move beyond political
point scoring and egoistical posturing in who is "leading" any [or no]
movement – then please attend the 7pm demonstration and show unity.